Inactivity contributes to one in ten deaths

Physical inactivity causes almost one in ten premature deaths around the world, new research suggests.

Scientists estimated the proportion of non-communicable diseases that could be prevented if inactive people became active.

Publishing their findings in the Lancet medical journal, they reveal that nine per cent of premature mortality - approximately 5.3 million deaths - were caused by physical inactivity in 2008.

Physical inactivity was found to cause six per cent of cases of coronary heart disease, as well as causing seven per cent of the burden of disease from type-2 diabetes, ten per cent of breast cancer and ten per cent of bowel cancer.

Even decreasing inactivity levels by just ten per cent could prevent more than 533,000 deaths each year, the researchers say.

In addition, eliminating physical inactivity could increase the average person's life expectancy by 0.68 years.

'Physical inactivity has a major health effect worldwide,' the study authors wrote.

'Decrease in or removal of this unhealthy behaviour could improve health substantially.'

Amy Thompson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, observed that the findings were not surprising.

'Being physically active can have huge benefits for your health,' she added.

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